Bangladesh VS Sri Lanka Test Series
1st Test Played at ZACS, Chottogram
Brief Scorecard at Sumps Day two
Sri Lanka 1st Innings 397 All Out in 153 Overs (Angelo Mathews 199, Dinesh Chandimal 66, Kushal Mendis 54, Oshda Fernando 36, Naeem Hasan 6/105, Shakib Al Hasan 3/60)
Bangladesh 1st Innings 76/0 in 19 Overs (Tamim Iqbal 35* , Mahmudul Hasan Joy 31*)
Bangladesh Trails by 321 runs will all first-innings wickets at hand.
On a placid wicket not giving much assistance veteran Angelo played a patient inning of 199 to steer his team to a reasonable 397 all out.
Though he missed his second test double hundred by a whisker yet his innings kept Sri Lanka in the game. Mathews held the innings together producing a match-defining 136 runs 5th wicket partnership with Dinesh Mendis. (66).
Bangladesh bowlers like day one bowled consistently on the right length and right channel through the day. Naeem started taking 6/101. Shakib maintained his miserly tight bowling taking 3/60 in 39 overs. Bangladesh openers played positively in the 19 overs posting an unbeaten 76. Day three is going to dictate which direction the test will be heading.
Sri Lanka started day two at 258/4 and were looking till almost the lunch grinding and grafting against an accurate Bangladesh attack giving nothing away. Mominul for reasons best known to him held back his off-spinner Naeem till the last stage of the first session. But as soon as he was introduced removed stubborn Dinesh Chandimal for 66 and accounted for Niroshan Dickwala turning visitors to 6/323... Shakib continued teasing Sri Lankans with his superb control. After lunch, he struck double blows claiming the wickets of Ramesh Mendis and Lasith Embuldeniya off successive deliveries. Sri Lanka was 8/328 at that stage.
Shakib should have also removed Viswa Fernando if Mushfique could hold on to a simple catch. But Angelo Mathews fighting the lone battle from the won end set up another very useful partnership of 62 in the 9th wicket before Naeem appeared again to mop up the tail along with Angelo depriving him of his well deserved double century. Naeem’s brilliant efforts with his steady off-spin were crowned with 6/101. Bangladesh was in a position to restrict Sri Lanka below 350.
Bangladesh openers made a brisk start against ordinary Lankan bowling. Tamim was a bit shaky and was dropped off a no-ball. Again a top edge dropped in numen's land. His young partner Joy looked much more assured. Bangladesh reached 76/0 at stumps. The wicket was still not doing much. Experienced Bangladesh batting can overhaul Sri Lankan total if only one of the top four replicates Angelo Mathews.
There is enough time left in the game. Bangladesh should target batting once as batting on this wicket on day five may be difficult. The match looks wide open yet. Visitors will have to bowl much better if they want to remain in the contest.
BDST: 1940 HRS, MAY 16, 2022
MSK/SMS
